The first day of the conference.

Piya is keen to get checked it at the conference early despite her not being due to speak until the afternoon of the second day. The events centre is a short taxi ride from our hotel and is once again being covered by the university. Arriving at the venue we find a group of likewise punctual attendees lining up at the check-in tables. Piya and I join the queue and are soon called forward. Piya informs the conference staff member that she is presenting on behalf of her uni and is issued with a very official looking laminated id tag and lanyard. As her invited guest I am likewise issued with access all areas credentials but with guest written in place of Piya’s photo identification.

Passing the reception area, Piya is giddy with excitement at her first official id tag with her name on it and stops me to take a number of photos of her wearing it to send through to her girlfriends via their group chats. Piya poses in front of some signage signifying the conference and I take a number of snaps from different angles. I show them to her and she happily selects her favourites and sends them off for everyone’s approval and congratulations.

Having completed our first order of business, Piya pulls out the conferences guidebook and starts to plan which talks and events she wants to see. She points out to me the spot on the run sheet that she is speaking on as well as when Candace will be talking. From there she leads me to a welcoming mixer featuring graduate students and potential employers that serves coffee and a light breakfast of pastries. From experience, I knew just how poor uni students could be until I’d started working security and am not surprised to find many people attending if only for the free meal.

I go to order us a pair of coffees from the barista while Piya begins to make her rounds of the room networking with some of the potential research places she may wish to one day work at. Despite taking no more than ten minutes to receive two take away paper cups I return to find Piya already hemmed in by several people eager to introduce themselves to her. Noticing me she parts the crowd for me and introduces me to each of the group as her partner. I smile and return polite greetings and am a little shocked by the names of the companies these people represent. Multibillion-dollar **** companies Pfizer, Bayer, GSK and Roche, as well as many I’ve never heard of, are all falling over themselves to give their cards to Piya as well as set up one on one recruitment meeting at a later date. Shocked at the attention, I play my role as dutifully supportive partner and keep my answers polite and leave the talking to Piya.

Only after the mixer is over and Piya has collected a wad of business cards with handwritten messages to contact such and such do I draw her to the side on our way to the next event and ask Piya more about her studies.

“Babe,” I begin, not really sure how to frame my question, “all those companies are huge names.”

Piya simply nods.

“They seemed like they were lining up to fall all over you. I’ve never really asked before, simply knowing whatever you were working on was far too intelligent for me but what is it exactly?”

I watch as Piya debates something internally with herself before answering, “my research has been on something very close and personal to me and I promise I will answer whatever questions you have tomorrow after my talk. One of the side benefits of my research has the potential to become a range of new **** and I guess all these companies want to get in on that but that’s not the goal of what I’ve been doing. So, can you trust me that it’s difficult for me to talk about this?”

Seeing her struggle within herself makes me hurt on a whole other level. I pull her close to me and hold her tight.

“Of course. I love you and support you no matter what,” I tell her hoping my words are some comfort.

Piya picks up at my words and seems happy again. Slipping under my arm we continue onwards to the next step of the conference.

The morning is filled with talks and panels on cures and treatments for what seems like every illness under the sun. Piya remains focused and fascinated by all of it but by the time lunch comes I am lost and drained by not understanding even a small percentage of things discussed. Still, a catered lunch and the prospect of Candace’s presentation straight afterwards gives me something to look forward too and helps to recharge my batteries. Sensing my fatigue Piya offers for me to return to the hotel after Candace’s talk and is happy to continue by herself. I tell her I’ll see how I’m going then and will decide later.

Candace’s talk is just as she said, a big job recruitment infomercial for her hospital. She speaks briefly on her own work within the emergency department before formally announcing to the crowd the creation of a dedicated research and development department attached directly to the hospital that seeks to bring the very best in experimental and emerging treatments to patients that may otherwise have incurable conditions. The new R&D department would work with researchers worldwide on a knowledge exchange basis that has the potential to bring new **** and treatments to suffers years ahead of potential methods.

Candace’s announcement is met with a vigorous round of applause by the audience and she is soon beset by a host of people eager to congratulate her and ingratiate themselves with the hospital. Piya and I hang back from the crowd and wait patiently for the well-wishers to disperse.

Finally excusing herself from the bunch she comes over to us.

“A wonderful talk,” Piya congratulates her friends, “sounds like a hell of an opportunity.”

Candace hugs Piya and thanks her for the compliment before saying, “It’s a step up from the ER, maybe not as glamorous but has the potential for long term changes to health and treatment and not just patching up car crash victims and **** overdoses. I told you the hospital was going all out for you. You’d be fast forwarding years of career development Piya. You could lead your own research team and not be an underling for someone else. I truly hope you’ll consider it.”

Piya nodded and said she’d think about it more.

Candace, however, can’t resist one more attempt at persuasion though, “and as I said, I’m ready to kiss ass or whatever it is you want to be kissed.”

“OMG would you give Professor Brown a call if you’re that horny!” Piya laughs.

“I would but he’s not staying at the same hotel as we are,” Candace laughs in return.

The girls giggle like they are back in the first year together and I can’t help but wonder at the history they might have shared together. Piya certainly doesn’t seem the least bit put off by Candace’s flirting. Could they have ever played together as Piya and Yui do sometimes? I have very little difficulty picturing them together in my head if I am honest.

“Which discussion were you going to attend now?” Piya asks Candace as she pulls out the timetable again to show her friend.

“Oh, I was going to skip the rest of the day. I’ve done my part for the hospital and have no wish to be cornered with resumes for the afternoon. They’re a sun lounge with my name on it by the pool and I intend to return with an all over tan.”

“Why don’t you head back together?” Piya indicates my intention to skip out on the rest of today also.

“Sure! I could use someone to rub lotion into my back seeing as you won’t let me scratch yours,” Candace says agreeing.

Piya laughs again and I kiss her goodbye, Candace’s eyes lingering on our mouths as we kiss. Outside we are able to snare a cab quickly with a number waiting to take people away from the conference. I hold the door to the rear of the taxi for Candace before joining her on the backseat. Candace gives the man the name of our hotel and we are soon making our way through the Sydney traffic back to the Spicers.